Senator Osmek, Senate Republicans, roll out C.O.P.S. package of bills aimed to recruit people into law enforcement careers 

(ST. PAUL, MN) –Today, Senate Republicans rolled out a $65 million C.O.P.S. Program, which stands for “Creating Opportunities in Public Safety.” The proposals focus on recruitment to address the peace officer shortage affecting the entire state. The six different bills help young people get their degree in law enforcement, provide opportunities for nontraditional entrants into policing, and fund a marketing campaign as well as continuing education to highlight the honorable profession and long-term benefits of a career in law enforcement.

“Minnesota has a problem,” Senator David Osmek (R-Mound) said. “We don’t have enough qualified candidates applying to become police officers. This impacts every community across this state. As the pool dwindles, our forces become stretched, our communities become less safe, and our officers have less essential career experience to make split-second choices. Nobody should want this outcome. Together, we need to address this decline, incentivize qualified recruits, and ensure that we are hiring the best talent at each department.”

Across the nation, law enforcement positions are opening up faster than they can be replaced by retirement or resignation. In 2021 alone, The Star Tribune reported Minnesota saw 32 Police Chiefs retire. The Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board Job board shows openings for licensed peace officers in at least 65 agencies. Minneapolis and St. Paul have nearly 300 open positions to fill as of last month, with the state currently lacking upwards of 800 officers.  

To view the complete list of provisions proposed by Senate Republicans, click the link below:

www.mnsenaterepublicans.com/cops/

To listen to the press conference, click here:
https://www.facebook.com/mnsrc/videos/891349158225012